Elden Ring Tarnished Edition New Class: Heavy Knight Stats, Armor, Weapons, and More

Are you looking forward to the release of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2? One of the new starting classes to be added in this edition is Heavy Knight. This article dives deep into the Heavy Knight class, including the release details, stats, equipment, and build potential.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition New Class Heavy Knight

The Heavy Knight is a brand-new exclusive starting class introduced specifically for the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, which is a special release of the beloved action RPG tailored for the Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike the original Elden Ring classes, the Heavy Knight emphasizes high endurance, strength, and vitality, making it ideal for players who prefer a melee-focused, tank-like playstyle. This class was first showcased at Nintendo’s booth during Gamescom 2025, highlighting its unique armor set and a powerful curved greatsword, setting it apart from the traditional Knight or Vagabond classes. While the class determines your initial stats and gear, like all classes in Elden Ring, you retain the freedom to customize your build as you progress.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Heavy Knight Release Date

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was officially announced during the Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, 2025, marking the series’ first appearance on a Nintendo platform. Initially slated for release in 2025, Bandai Namco later announced on the official Elden Ring Twitter account that the launch has been delayed until 2026. The Tarnished Edition bundles the base Elden Ring game (originally released in 2022), the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion (2024), and new content such as weapons, armor, and cosmetic customizations. So the Heavy Knight class is also expected to be released in early 2026. 

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Heavy Knight Stats

The Heavy Knight starts with a unique and robust stat distribution, focusing on survivability and melee power. At level 8, the Heavy Knight’s stats are:

• Vigor: 14

• Endurance: 17

• Strength: 15

• Dexterity: 11

• Mind: 7

• Intelligence: 7

• Faith: 7

• Arcane: 9

This setup grants the Heavy Knight substantial health and stamina (thanks to high vigor and endurance), enabling the use of heavier armor without sacrificing mobility. Strength and dexterity are balanced to allow wielding a variety of powerful weapons, especially the class’s signature curved greatsword. This makes the Heavy Knight a formidable front-line fighter capable of both tanking damage and dealing heavy melee strikes.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Heavy Knight Armor & Weapons

The Heavy Knight class boasts a distinctive and imposing armor set that emphasizes defense and a heavy aesthetic, perfectly complementing its role as a tanky melee class. The armor was prominently showcased at Gamescom 2025 and features a new design exclusive to Tarnished Edition.

In terms of weaponry, the Heavy Knight wields a new curved greatsword that melds the raw power of a greatsword with the agility of a curved weapon. This weapon is unique to the class and differs from the traditional greatswords seen in the base game, offering a fresh combat experience. Additionally, the class starts with standard Elden Ring essentials such as the Calling Bell and a Flask of False Grace, enhancing early game survival and multiplayer interaction.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Heavy Knight Build Ideas

The Heavy Knight’s stat and equipment profile make it an excellent choice for players who want to build a heavily armored melee powerhouse. Here are some popular build concepts based on the Heavy Knight:

• Heavy Strength Tank: Maximize endurance and vitality to wear the heaviest armor sets and wield colossal weapons for maximum damage output and defense.

• Curved Greatsword Specialist: Focus on strength and dexterity to optimize damage with the unique curved greatsword, combining powerful strikes with moderate speed.

• Fat Roll Brawler: Utilize high endurance and strength to equip heavy armor while maintaining the ability to stagger enemies and survive multiple hits.

• Hybrid Melee-Caster: With decent arcane and mind stats, players can experiment with buffing spells and ashes of war to enhance melee combat effectiveness.